Attachment for baluster for stair, balcony or landing rails for both adjustable and fixed railings

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for attaching balusters for a stair, balcony, deck, landing or the like providing an adjustable connection of a baluster to a rail and a base surface. The apparatus includes a ball adapter and a socket. The ball adapter is joined with the socket and mounted on a stair surface. The ball adapter and its mounting to the socket provides for limited adjustable movement of the adapter with respect to the socket and the stair surface. The ball adapter provides for the attachment of a baluster to the adapter. The adjustable connection of this apparatus can be used to attach to a rail or to a base of a stair, balcony, deck, landing or the like. The ball adapter and socket can be used to produce modular prefabricated baluster systems that can be adjusted for any slope or level rail and baluster installation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. ______ filed May 10, 2006.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to construction of railing systems associated with stairs, balcony, landing or deck railings and particularly to the construction and attachment of balusters to such constructions.

In the construction of stairs, decks, balconies and the like, there is a need for installing railings and balusters between the railings and the base of the stair, balcony, landing or deck and there are frequent jurisdictional codes as to the size and spacing of balusters along such railings. The construction of railings and the installation of balusters with those railings at a job site can be time consuming in the spacing and attachment of the balusters between the railing and a base. The present invention is intended to provide a simplified apparatus for positioning and adjusting balusters along a railing installation.

The on site installation of balusters to a sloping stairway requires measurement and alignment of separate balusters to conform to the slope of the stairway. Because not all stairways are of the same slope, the installing of a baluster may require drilling mounting holes in a railing for connection of a baluster and aligning such holes with mounting holes along a base surface. The present invention provides a simplified means and method for installing balusters along a railing regardless of the slope of a stairway or the spacing between the railing and a base surface.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In accord with the present invention baluster attachment to stair or balcony railing is accomplished using a ball joint attachment. The ball joint can be used to attach a baluster between rails using a ball joint top and bottom (both ends) of the baluster or attaching the baluster to a top rail only and using a base to attach the baluster to a tread at the bottom. The ball joint may be adjustable in a longitudinal direction only along the length of the rail by pinning the ball joint at 90° to the axis of the rail to form a modular configuration of multiple balusters held by fillet rails of various lengths which can be attached to a rail or (without a plough) accommodated in a rail plough at top and bottom to form an adjustable rail which is variable in length according to the number of modules which are held between the rails. In this configuration the balusters are attached to the fillet rails and the fillet rails are attached to the top and bottom rails—also known as the banister rail and shoe rail. The baluster may also e attached to the top rail using a ball adapter. A socket is used to conform the surface of the rail in multi planar attachment or a hole is drilled to form a socket also allowing a multi planar attachment to the rail. A screw may be used to attach the ball adapter which may be a separate screw or a permanently fixed screw The screw is used to hold the socket in place or in the case of a socket hole it is used to hold the ball in the hole.

The base which is used to attach the bottom of the baluster to a tread may be attached to the tread via base thread or screw. As a part of the baluster attachment to a fillet rail, a clip can also be used as an alternative to drilling pin holes in the fillet rails. The clips are a variation of a socket and the clip socket is independently attached to form a movable socket hole.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simplified apparatus and method for attaching balusters between a railing and a base surface of a deck, tread, balcony, landing or the like by providing an attachment assembly that permits the installation of a baluster regardless of the angular slope between the railing and a base.

A further object in accord with the preceding object is the provision of an assembly of a ball adapter and a socket that permits the movable adjustment of the angle of a baluster with respect to the slope of a rail to provide for ease of installation of the baluster to the rail and/or a base.

A further object in accord with the preceding objects is to provide for the assembly of a plurality of balusters with a railing insert that will permit the installation of adjustable modules of balusters along spaces in a stair, deck, balcony, or landing.

Further objects and features of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a baluster installed between a rail and a base showing the elements of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial section view of the baluster installation of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is another partial section view showing several elements of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a section view of an alternative form of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial section view showing elements of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial section view of another form of the present invention.

FIGS. 7 & 8 are additional alternative forms of the ball adapter.

FIGS. 9 & 10 are forms of base attachment elements.

FIG. 11 is a plan and section view of socket construction

FIG. 12 is an elevation view of a baluster with ball structure at each end.

FIG. 13 is an illustration of the installation of a baluster like FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a cross-section view of a ball adapter of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an exploded illustration of the parts of an assembly of the present invention for mounting a baluster to a banister and a shoe rail.

FIG. 16 is the apparatus of FIG. 15 in assembled form and installed.

FIGS. 17, 18 & 19 are alternative forms of plough and fillet rails in a banister.

FIG. 20 is an exploded illustration of a banister and shoe rail with mounting sockets.

FIG. 21 is a section view of an alternative form of a ball adapter.

FIG. 22 is a section view showing the use of clip attachment for mounting a ball adapter to a fillet rail.

FIG. 23 is section view through FIG. 22 along lines 2-2.

FIG. 24 is a section view of elements of a clip and fillet rail installation.

FIG. 25 is an alternative form of clip and fillet rail construction.

FIGS. 26 & 27 are alternative forms of clip construction.

FIG. 28 illustrates the use of the clip of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a top plan view of a fillet rail with a clip installation and showing the tabs in place in a groove in the fillet rail.

FIG. 30 is an illustration of a portion of a fillet rail in preparation for installation of clip fasteners or for ball adapter installations without a socket.

FIG. 31 is an illustration of adjustable baluster modules assembled in accord with the present invention.

FIG. 32 is an elevation view showing baluster modules installed along a sloping stair or ramp.

FIG. 33 is a section view of one form of a ball adapter.

FIG. 34 is a section view of an alternative form of a ball adapter.

FIG. 35 is a partial section view of the installation of a ball adapter and a socket.

FIG. 36 is a partial section view of alternative forms of ball adapter and socket installations.

FIG. 37 is an illustration of the installation of a ball adapter without a socket.

FIG. 38 is an illustration of two alternative forms of attaching a ball adapter to a socket.

FIG. 39 is an illustration of the ball adapter and socket installed on a rail.

FIG. 40 is an illustration of a ball adapter and an alternative socket on a rail.

FIG. 41 is a section view of a ball adapter and socket installation with a rail having a plough and a fillet rail.

FIG. 42 is an illustration of the mounting of the end of baluster to a tread, balcony or landing.

FIG. 43 is an illustration of a socket mounted to a shoe rail.

FIG. 44 is an illustration of a ball adapter and socket on a shoe rail with a plough.

FIG. 45 is an illustration of a ball adapter in a cutout hole in a rail.

FIG. 46 is an illustration of a ball adapter attached to a fillet rail with a pin for installation in a rail with or without a plough.

FIG. 47 is an illustration of the series of steps in installing a baluster in accord with one form of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention; however, the invention may be practiced without these particulars. In other instances, well known elements have not been shown or described to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather that a restrictive, sense.

FIG. 1 illustrates an assembly 1 of a baluster installation wherein a baluster 11 is shown attached between a top rail 12 and a bottom rail or shoe rail 13 using a ball and socket connector 14 at the top and bottom of the baluster. The connection to the rails includes a ball adapter 15 and a socket 16. The connector 14 assembly is more fully described hereinafter along with its function of providing an adjustable connection of a baluster to a rail, balcony, landing or tread in a stair.

FIG. 2 illustrates, in partial section, the installation of a baluster 11 connection to a top rail 12 having a plough 21 in its lower surface and a fillet rail 22 in the plough and the ball and socket connector 14 attached to the under surface of the plough 22. This sectional view shows the plough and fillet rail at both the top and the bottom of the baluster installation.

The installation of a baluster to a rail system as shown in FIGS. 1 & 2 illustrates the ability of the baluster 11 to be installed in a rail system regardless of the slope of the railing in the ball and socket connector assembly provides for a ball surface 17 to be rotatable within a socket cup 18 of the socket 16 at both ends of the installation.

FIG. 3 illustrates the assembly of a connector 14 wherein a baluster 11 is connected to a sloping top or upper rail 12 and a horizontal base or tread 31. In this figure, the ball adapter 15 includes a ball 17 and an interior cavity 32 open at its bottom end 33 and terminating at it upper end 34 below the ball surface 17. The ball adapter 15 further includes an interior cavity 35 of lesser diameter than the cavity 32 and extending from the upper end 34 of cavity 32 to the center axis of the ball 17 at a shoulder 36 in that cavity 35. The ball 17 then has an extending cavity 37 of pyramidal form (to be described hereinafter) for accommodation of a screw attachment means 38.

The ball 17 engages the socket 16 at an opening 39 having a complementary form for engaging the ball and the interior 40 of the opening 39 is tapered to engage the exterior of the ball 17 and to provide a movable connection between the socket 16 and the ball adapter 15. The socket then has an open end at 41 terminating in a perimeter shoulder 42. The screw attachment means 38 then passes through the internal cavity 32, the further cavity 35 and the pyramidal cavity 37 and can be driven into the underside of a rail 12 to secure the socket 16 to the rail 12 and to engage the ball 17 within the socket. The location of the head of the screw 38 at the intersection of the pyramidal cavity 37 and the cavity 35 permits the ball adapter 15 to be movable side-to-side in two directions of movement with respect to the rail and within the socket cup opening 39.

FIG. 3 also shows another attachment of the baluster 11 to a base or tread 31 wherein a base washer or adapter 24 is secured to the base 31 by a screw 25. A base baluster connector 26 having a hollow interior 27 is adapted to receive the lower end 11 a of a baluster 11. The connector 26 can be axially slidable along the baluster 11 and, as shown in this FIG to be attachable to the exterior of the end 11 a of the baluster and to the base washer 24 by set screws 28. Also as shown in this FIG, the upper end 11 b of the baluster 11 can be attached to the ball adapter by a set screw 29. The installation of a baluster to the form shown in FIG. 3 will be more fully described hereinafter.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative form of cooperating assembly of a ball adapter and a socket, and is illustrated in an assembly used with a fillet rail. In this alternative form the socket 16 is attachable to a fillet rail 22 by a screw 45 passing through a hole 46 in the rail and into a threaded portion 47 in the socket 22. The interior of the base of the fillet rail 22 and the exterior of the socket 16 are formed with complementary surfaces to provide a smooth connection between the socket and the fillet rail. The interior 48 of the socket is formed to receive the ball 17 portion of the ball adapter 15. A transverse hole passes 49 through the peripheral edges of the portion of the socket 16 that accommodates the ball 17. The ball 17 includes a transverse hole 50 positioned so that it is aligned with the hole 49 in the socket and the two holes are designed to receive a mounting shaft 51, or pin, for supporting the ball adapter 15 in movable alignment within the socket 16. This movable alignment permits the ball adapter 15 to have limited rotational movement about an axis transverse to the fillet rail 22.

The assemblies shown in FIGS. 3 & 4 are adapted for mounting a baluster to the under surface of a rail or a fillet rail, and as will be described hereinafter, these assemblies could be use to connect a baluster to a base surface of a stair or the like.

FIG. 5 illustrates another alternative form for the assembly of a ball adapter and socket and its means of mounting to a rail. In this form the ball adapter 15 has a ball surface 17 that cooperates with a socket 16 and a screw 52 passes axially through the center of the ball 17 to engage the under surface of the rail 12.

FIG. 6 illustrates another alternative form of attaching a ball adapter 15 to the undersurface of a rail 12. In this form, a cutout 61 is cut into the under surface of the rail 12 and the ball 17 fits into that cutout 61. A screw 62 passes through the center of the ball 17 and is screwed into the surface of the rail 12 at the interior of the cutout 61.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative form for the ball adapter 15 wherein the ball 17 is fabricated with an attachment device 70 having screw end 71 extending out of the ball 17 for engagement with a rail and a threaded end 72 for attaching a cup like portion 73 adapted to receive an end of a baluster (not shown). A threaded cup or nut may be installed through the interior of the cup 73 to attach the cup to the ball 17 at the threaded end 72 of the device 70. When the elements of FIG. 7 are assembled to form a ball adapter 15, the assembly can be mounted to a rail in the manner described with respect to FIG. 5 or 6.

FIG. 8 illustrates another alternative form for construction of the ball adapter 15. In this form the ball 17 portion of the adapter is formed with an imbedded mounting means 80 with a screw threaded portion extending from the surface of the ball. As illustrated, this form of ball adapter many be mounted to the under surface of a rail in the manner shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 illustrates a structure for attaching the bottom end of a baluster to a base surface of a stair, tread, balcony, landing or the like. In this form a washer-like element 90 having external threads is attached to a base 31 by screw 25 passing through the element 90 and into the base 31. A connector 26 has a hollow interior and an interior threaded portion 91 adapted to mate with the external threads of the element 90 to secure the connector 26 to the element 90 and base 31. This form of base connection is as described with respect to FIG. 3 where the hollow interior of the connector 26 is adapted to receive the end of a baluster and to make a solid connection to the base through the threaded connection with the washer-like element 91.

FIG. 10 illustrates two alternative forms for baluster connectors for the baluster attachment of the present invention. In these forms the connector 100 is a hollow form with either a screw 101 for passing through the interior of the connector to a base or the connector is formed with an imbedded screw 102.

FIG. 11 is a plan and section view of a form of the socket 16 that is to be attached to the underside of a rail as with the ball adapter mounting systems shown in FIGS. 3 & 5. The opening 39 in the socket, as shown in the section taken along lines A-A of FIG. 11, has a tapered surface 40 (here shown as hemispherical) that mates with the exterior surface of the ball as shown in FIG. 3 or 5.

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a simple baluster having ball surfaces 121 at each end. These ball surfaces 121 an be adapted to cooperate with a socket 16 to be mounted to the under surface of a rail or the base of a stairway.

FIG. 13 illustrates the use of a baluster 11 in the form shown in FIG. 12 with ball surfaces 121 and a socket 16 attached to a rail 12 by screws 131, or the like, passing through a surface of the socket 16.

FIG. 14 is an illustration of the ball adapter 15 showing the interior cavity 31 and the further interior cavity 35 terminating at the center of the ball and adapted to cooperate with the head of a screw 38. Also illustrated is the pyramidal cavity that permits limited pivotal movement of the ball adapter 15 with respect to it mounting on a rail or the like. The perspective shown perpendicular arrows are intended to illustrate the moveable motion of the ball adapter and a baluster attached to it for assembling a baluster on a railing as will be described hereinafter.

FIG. 15 is an exploded illustration of the elements of an baluster construction for mounting on a rail system. FIG. 16 illustrates the elements of FIG. 15 when assembled. In FIG. 15, starting from the top, illustrates a rail 12 with a plough, a fillet rail 22 or socket 16 of the form shown in FIG. 4 with a pin 51 passing through a hole 49 in the socket and through a hole 50 in the ball for mounting a ball adapter 15 to the fillet rail 22 or socket 16, a baluster 11 having ball surfaces 121 at each end, and a base mounting assembly including a ball adapter, socket 16, pin 51 and aligned holes 49 and 50, and means for attaching the fillet rail 22 or socket 16 to a plough 21 in a shoe or bottom rail 13. FIG. 16 illustrates all of the parts of FIG. 15 in assembly.

FIGS. 17, 18 & 19 illustrate alternative forms of ploughs 21 in a rail 12 and different means for maintaining a fillet rail 22 within the ploughs. FIG. 17 illustrates a form with the fillet rail having a flush mating with the rail plough. FIG. 18 illustrates a dovetail mating form for the plough and fillet rail. FIG. 19 illustrates a tongue and groove mating form for the plough and fillet rail. In each of these cases, the plough is a continuous groove formed in the surface of the rail from one end to the other end of the rail. The fillet rail is adapted to be inserted into the plough and is used in the formation of modular assemblies of balusters as will be described hereinafter.

FIG. 20 illustrates a top rail 12 and a bottom rail 13 having an attached fillet rail 22 showing holes passing laterally through the fillet rail edges 23 for accommodating a pin 51 for mounting a baluster assembly.

FIG. 21 illustrates a form of ball adapter for mounting the adapter in a socket 16 or a fillet rail 22 (shown in FIG. 15) using a pin 51 through the ball portion 17.

FIGS. 22 through 31 illustrate an alternative form of attaching a ball adapter to a fillet rail system. In FIG. 22 a fillet rail 220 is illustrated with a cutout hole 221 extending vertically through the rail and adapted to receive a cup shaped clip 222. The cutout 221 has a diameter to receive the clip and reduced diameter end at 223 to cooperate with the exterior end of the clip 222 and to act as a stop for the insertion of the clip within the fillet rail. The reduced diameter end is larger that the diameter of a ball portion 17 of a ball adapter for reasons that will be apparent hereafter. The clip has diametrically opposed tabs 224 adapted for mounting the clip in the fillet rail 220 and the rail has a longitudinal groove 225 on its outer surface for cooperating with the tabs. The tabs 224 are adapted to receive screws for attaching the clip to the groove 225 in the rail 220. As shown in FIG. 22, a ball adapter 15 can be mounted in the clip 222 and the ball adapter 15 can be provided with as central hole 226 passing through the ball 17 at its center, the hole is shown in the ball of FIG. 22 at 900 to the axis of the fillet rail 220, for accommodating a pin 227 for supporting rotational movement of the ball adapter about the pin 227 (FIG. 23).

As illustrated in this FIG, the ball adapter 15 is inserted up through the reduced diameter hole 223 in the rail 220 and the clip 222 is placed on the ball 17 with pin 227 passing through the hole 226 in the ball and the holes 228 in the clip. Then the clip is passed down through the hole 223 and the tabs 224 are fixed with screws to the groove 225 in the surface of the fillet rail. When so assembled and extending from the outside of the rail 220, the ball adapter 15 is adapted to receive an end of a baluster.

FIG. 23 illustrates a sectional view through the apparatus as shown in FIG. 22 with the ball adapter 15 mounted in the clip 222 and the clip moved down into place in the rail. The ball 17 is pivoted about the pin 227 in the clip 222.

FIG. 24 is an exploded sectional view showing a cross-section of a fillet rail 220 with the transverse hole 221, the reduced diameter end 223, and the groove 225. Above the representation of the rail 220 is the clip 222 with its tab 224 and holes 228 for the pin 227. As illustrated, the clip 222 is intended to be inserted into the rail 220 after a ball adapter (not shown) has been mounted in the clip 222.

FIG. 25 illustrates an alternative form of the clip 222 wherein a pair of pins 229 are formed in the clip for mounting a ball adapter to the clip instead of the use of a pin passing through the clip 222 and the ball 17 of the ball adapter 15.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the clip shown in FIG. 22. The clip of FIG. 26 is used as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the alternative form of clip shown in FIG. 25 and illustrates the clip with a cut wall surface at 230 and the pins 229 molded into the interior surface of the clip. This form of clip would be opened at the cut wall as shown in the left side of FIG. 28 so as to permit the clip to be placed about the ball surface 15 of ball adapter (not shown) and then the pins 229 can be inserted in the hole through the ball 17 as shown in FIGS. 4 & 21. FIG. 28 illustrates a clip with a single cut wall 230 in the left side view and in the right side view the illustration is a clip 222 make in two halves for duplicating the form of clip shown in FIG. 26.

FIG. 29 illustrates a top plan view showing a clip 222 mounted with tabs 224 in the groove 225 of a fillet rail 220. FIG. 30 illustrates a portion of a rail 220 adapted with spaced cutout holes 221 and the reduced diameter portion 223. The spacing between cutout holes 221 may be as required by building codes for baluster spacing and, as illustrated at the right end of the illustration, and end of a fillet rail 220 may be one half of the distance between code spaced holes so that the ends of two fillet rails will provide for a full spacing between the first and last hole in adjacent fillet rails.

FIG. 31 and FIG. 32 illustrate the possible assembly of modules of balusters for installation along a rail. In FIG. 31 three assemblies are shown; one at the left with 12 balusters, a central assembly having 7 balusters, and on the right an assembly with 2 balusters. With the apparatus and method of the present invention, these assemblies of modules of balusters can be preassembled with fillet rails before being delivered to a job site in units that will span the length of a desired rail system. On the job site, as shown in FIG. 32, the modules are then attached to rails having a plough adapted to receive the fillet rail. The modules are adjustable in slope to match any slope of a stair or ramp or the horizontal surface of a deck, balcony or landing. The modules can be mounted between posts on the job site. Modules for step cut railings having balusters of different length can also be prefabricated and sent to the job site. Also, with the flexible assembly of balusters to a top rail and a base rail, the ball adapter system of the present invention provides for ease of installation.

FIG. 33 illustrates one of the preferred forms of the ball adapter 15 wherein there are three levels of interior cavities; a first cavity 32 for receiving a portion of a baluster, a second cavity 35 for passage of a fastening means 38 such as a screw, and a third covity 37 for passage of the fastening means and to allow flexible mounting of the ball adapter and movement of the baluster about the center of the ball surface 17.

FIG. 34 illustrates another preferred form of the ball adapter invention wherein the flexible mounting of the ball adapter 15 is accomplished by mounting the ball adapter with a pin 51 passing through the center of the ball 17. The pin is then secured to a socket that is mounted on a rail system.

FIG. 35 illustrates the flexibility of the mounting of the ball adapter 15 as shown in FIG. 33 wherein the ball adapter 15 is used to attach the ball to a rail structure 12 with a socket 16 contacting the rail and screw 38 passing through the ball 17 and the pyramidal cavity 37 to the rail. The flexibility is provided by the movement of the ball adapter about the mounting within the socket 16 within the limits of the opening of the pyramidal cavity.

FIG. 36 illustrates another of the preferred embodiments of the present invention illustrating several attachment means for connecting the socket to the rail or fillet rail 12 and includes a screw 45 extending down from the rail, or a screw 45 a extending upwardly through the socket base and into the face of the rail 12, or side screws 45 b extending upwardly through flanges of the socket 16. In each of these attaching means the purpose is to attach the socket 16 to the rail 12. The interior of the socket is adapted to receive the ball surface 17 of the ball adapter in the socket 16. The mounting of the ball for its limited rotary movement is through a pin 51 extending through the transverse holes 49 in the socket (not shown) and the hole (not shown) through the center of ball 17. The purpose of this mounting is to provide limited rotary of the ball adapter about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rail 12.

FIG. 37 illustrates that the axis of rotation of the ball adapter at the pin 51 is within the cavity 48 in the interior of the socket 16 (or in the case of a pin support within the rail as shown in FIGS. 22 & 23) is not visible from the exterior of the mounting of the ball adapter to the rail. A finished mounting of balusters with the apparatus of the preferred embodiments as here illustrated would provide a finished appearance without blemishes.

FIG. 38 illustrates a ball adapter 15 with both the central mounting screw attachment means passing through the center of the ball 17 and an adaptation for central pivot pin 51 that would pass through the center of the ball 17 and provide for movement about the pin.

FIGS. 39, 40 and 41 illustrate the several attachments of a ball adapter to a rail 12. In FIG. 39 the attachment is either through a central screw attachment means of pin 51 each of which provides for limited movement of the ball adapter 15 with respect to the rail 12. FIG. 40 illustrates the attachment of the ball adapter 15 to the central cavity of socket 16 at pin 51 extending through the center of the ball 17; the socket is attached to the rail 12 by screws 45 b (or the like) passing through a portion of the socket 16. FIG. 41 illustrates the attachment an assembly of the ball adapter 15 with a socket 16 attached to a fillet rail 22 by a screw 45 passing into the center of the top of the socket 16 and the entire assembly is maintained within a plough 21 of a rail 12.

FIG. 42 illustrates the axial sliding of a base connector 26 along the lower end of a baluster 11 a and the connection to the base washer or adapter 24.

FIG. 43 illustrates the socket 21 attached to a base or shoe rail 31 (or a tread) as it could be adapted to receive a ball adapter 15 in the several mounting arrangements previously described.

FIG. 44 illustrates the attachment of a ball adapter to a base or shoe rail 31 (or tread) wherein the base rail includes a plough 21 to which a fillet rail 22 is connected. The assembly is intended to illustrate that the same elements can be used in the base and top attachment of a baluster to a stair or deck.

FIG. 45 shows an alternative form of the mounting system using a cutout in the undersurface of a rail 12. In this form, the cutout 61 has a cup shaped insert 63 that is attached by a screw 64 so as to lock within the cutout. The insert 63 has an outer ridge 65 with a transverse hole 66 (not shown) adapted to pass a pin 67. The ball 17 for this assembly has an interior transverse hole 68 (not shown) for receiving the pin 67 that is passed through the insert 63 to support the ball 17 for limited rotational movement with respect to the axis of the rail 12.

FIG. 46 illustrates an alternative mounting for the ball adapter 15 within a fillet rail 22 that is adapted to mate with the plough 21 in a rail 12. The fillet rail 22 is constructed with an edge 461 that is large enough to permit a hole to pass through the edge to accommodate a pin 51. The ball 17 of the ball adapter 15 also has a hole (not shown) that passes through its center and is adapted to receive the partial pins 51. The ball adapter 15 is then supported for limited rotational movement about the pin 51 within the fillet rail 22.

FIG. 47 is a three part illustration of the mounting of a baluster between a rail 21 and a base here shown as a tread 31 using a ball adapter 15 and socket 16. In the method shown here and with the apparatus shown, a baluster 11 first has its upper end 11 b inserted into the interior cavity 32 of the ball adapter 15 with the ball adapter rotated about its pivotal connection to the rail 12 and/or fillet rail. An internally threaded connector 26 is slideably positioned on the lower end 11 a of the baluster and the baluster is moved to be adjacent to the tread or base 31. A threaded base washer 24 is her shown attached to the base 31 directly below the position of the ball adapter 15 attachment to the rail 21. The upper end 11 b of the baluster 11 is then raised into the inner cavity of the ball adapter a sufficient distance to permit the lower end 11 a of the baluster 11 to be moved to a position directly above the threaded base washer 24 and the lower end 11 a of the baluster is positioned on top of the washer 24. The connector is then threaded onto the washer 24 to lock the alignment of the baluster. A set screw 28 can then be set in the upper ball adapter and the lower connector to fix the baluster against rotational movement. All connections of the baluster to the upper rail and the lower rail have a finished appearance. The mounting of the baluster between the upper rail and the lower base has been accomplished using the apparatus and method of the present invention.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically disclosed, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto as many variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadest possible interpretation within the terms of the following claims. 

1. A baluster attachment apparatus for connecting a baluster along a surface of a stair including a deck, tread, balcony, landing or the like comprising: a) a ball adapter, b) an attachment socket, said ball adapter comprising: i) a spherical ball structure at a ball end, ii) a means for attaching said ball end to said stair surface, said socket including an open end for movably receiving said ball end of said spherical ball structure and a mounting surface for engaging said socket at said stair surface, means for engaging said ball adapter with said socket to permit rotational movement of said ball end about the center of said spherical ball, iii) and means in said ball adapter for attaching said baluster to said ball adapter.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 including an attachment means passing from the center of said spherical ball through said ball and said socket and engaging said stair surface to engage said socket with said rail.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said attachment socket means includes means for attaching said socket to said stair surface and means passing through the center of said spherical ball for attaching said ball adapter to said socket.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said socket mounting surface for engaging said stair surface comprises means selected from the group including: a screw from the back of said socket into the interior of said socket, a screw from outside of said open end, or a screw from inside said socket through said open end
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said ball includes a pyramidal opening from the center of said ball for said attachment means to allow movement of said ball within said socket about said center of said spherical ball.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said open end of said socket is circular and at least as wide in diameter as the diameter of said spherical ball, and the interior of said open end includes peripheral walls tapering to mate with the surface of said spherical ball to permit said rotational movement of said spherical ball within said socket.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 with the addition of a pin extending through said peripheral wall of said socket at said open end so as to retain said spherical ball within said socket.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 including said attachment apparatus at each end of a baluster for attaching said baluster to said stair surface rail at one end and said deck, tread, balcony or landing at the other end.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ball adapter includes an extension from said ball, said extension including an internal cavity of a first dimension for accommodating an end of a baluster, said internal cavity providing for axial movement of said baluster within said cavity with respect to said spherical ball.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said internal cavity includes a further internal extension of reduced dimension between said first dimension of said internal cavity and said ball end extending into said spherical ball to the center of said ball.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 with said pyramidal opening in axial alignment with said further internal extension to accommodate said means for attaching said spherical ball and socket to said stairway surface.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1 for use with a stair rail or base surface of a deck, tread, balcony, or landing having an internal plough axially along said stair rail surface, said attachment further including: a) a fillet rail adapted to fit in said plough, b) an exterior surface of said fillet rail and an exterior surface of said socket being designed to mate, c) an attachment means for attaching said socket to said fillet rail with said ball adapter depending from said socket and fillet rail.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said fillet rail and plough have complementary surfaces that retain said fillet rail within said plough.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said fillet rail is a continuous member extending axially along said stair rail surface.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said fillet rail includes longitudinally spaced cutout openings with a base collar having an opening larger in diameter than the diameter of said ball end of said ball adapter, and a clip member having a cavity adapted to receive and retain said ball end of said ball adapter, whereby said ball adapter may be inserted into said fillet rail and extended to be retained in said clip member and said assembly of clip member and ball adapter may then be inserted into said fillet rail and retained in a movable position within said fillet rail, said clip member including means for attaching said clip member to said fillet rail.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said clip member is split along at least one cavity surface and pins extending internally from said cavity surface for engaging said ball end for retaining said ball adapter in movable position.
 17. A baluster with the apparatus of claim 1 at one end of said baluster and means at the opposite end of said baluster for mounting said baluster to a base of a deck, stair tread, balcony or landing, said means including: a) an externally adapted base element attached to a base such as said deck, tread, balcony or landing for said stair, b) a hollow base member adapted to be axially slideable along said baluster at said opposite end, one end of said hollow base member being internally adapted for mating with said externally adapted base element, whereby said baluster may be attached to an surface of a stair rail by means of claim 1 attachment means and attached to a base of a stair, deck, tread, balcony or landing by axially sliding said base member along said baluster and mating said base member adaptation to said adapted base element.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said externally adapted base element is an externally treaded washer-like element fixed to a base, and said adaptation of said hollow base member is an internally threaded adaptation.
 19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said base element is hollow and said baluster is attached to the interior of said hollow base element.
 20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stair includes a shoe rail along said deck, tread, balcony or landing and said socket is attached to said shoe rail.
 21. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said baluster is attached to said shoe rail and said shoe rail includes a plough and fillet rail.
 22. A plurality of the apparatus of claim 1 attached to a fillet rail in axial spaced alignment for assembly of balusters along a stair, deck, tread, balcony or landing.
 23. A baluster mounting apparatus for attaching a baluster at its tip to a handrail and at its bottom to a tread or base rail comprising: a) a socket, b) a ball adapter, c) a baluster having a top end and a bottom end, d) a base, e) said socket having a central concave cylindrical opening, the diameter of said central concave opening having an entry diameter at least as large as the diameter of said spherical ball and an exit diameter smaller than the diameter of said spherical ball, said socket having an exterior surface adapted to contact a surface of said handrail, f) said ball adapter including a first end having a spherical ball exterior surface, said spherical ball having an internal cavity terminating at the central axis of said ball surface, a pyramidal extension cavity from said internal cavity having its smaller dimension beginning at said central axis of said ball and its larger dimension ending at the spherical surface of said ball surface, the axis of said internal cavity and the axis of said pyramidal extension being axially aligned, said spherical ball adapter having an extension at an end opposite to said spherical ball, a hollow cavity in said extension, said hollow cavity having its axis in alignment with said internal cavity with said ball, said cavity in said extension and said cavity in said ball adapted to accommodate a mounting attachment means for attaching said socket to said hand rail with limited adjustable movement within said socket, said attachment means permitting said ball to be movable within said socket about the central axis of said ball, said ball having an internal cavity, g) means for attaching said base to a tread or a base rail spaced from said handrail, said base including a base attachment means, h) said baluster having an upper end having a surface adapted to be inserted within said hollow cavity of said ball adapter extension, said baluster having a lower end having a surface adapted to be engaged with said base attachment means of said base, said baluster having a length shorter than the distance between the internal end of said hollow cavity of said extension and the attachment surface of said base where by said upper end of said baluster may be inserted into said ball adapter cavity with said ball movable within said socket to allow said top end of said baluster to be inserted into said cavity and then further allowing adjustment of said ball adapter and baluster to align said baluster with said base and then said top end of said baluster may be inserted into said cavity, said baluster length being longer than the distance between the top of said base attachment means and the open end of said cavity in said extension of said ball adapter, and attachment means for securing said baluster within said base and to said extension of said ball adapter.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said attachment means securing said baluster within said base and within said extension of said ball adapter is a set screw extending through an exterior wall of said ball adapter and an exterior wall of said base.
 25. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said attachment socket is a cylindrical cutout into the under side of a rail and said ball adapter is inserted into said cutout and attached by a central screw passing through said ball end of said adapter, and said ball end is adapted with a central pyramidal opening to allow movement of said ball end within said cylindrical cutout and about said central screw.
 26. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein attachment of said socket to said fillet rail is a pin passing through external peripheral surfaces of said fillet rail with said pin passing through the center of said ball end of said ball adapter.
 27. The method of attaching a baluster to a surface of a stair, deck, tread, balcony or landing using a ball adapter and an attachment socket comprising the steps of: a) assembling said ball adapter and attachment socket with the ball end of said ball adapter rotatably movable within said socket, b) passing an attachment means through said ball adapter and said socket to connect said assembly to said surface, c) connecting a first end of said baluster to a portion of said ball adapter in a manner to permit rotational movement of said baluster about an axis perpendicular to said surface, d) connecting a second end of said baluster to a second assembly of a ball adapter and attachment socket, e) and connecting said second end of said baluster with said second assembly to another surface of said deck, tread, balcony or landing in a desired orientation of said baluster. 